News

"Pack it in Purple" with speciality jerseys

Kearney, Neb. – The Tri-City Storm (15-23-5-2, 37 pts., 8th Western) sits one point behind the Sioux Falls Stampede (16-22-2-4, 38 pts.) for seventh in the Western Conference and looks to pass the Herd on “Pack it in Purple Night”, presented by the United Way and Kearney Hub, Friday at 7:05 p.m.

The Storm will wear one-night-only specialty jerseys that will be available for auction after the game. Friday is also a $5 Kids Friday, presented by Kearney Taco Bell. All kids 12 and under receive a voucher for a free taco and soft drink.

Tri-City starts a four-game homestand on Friday, matching the Storm’s longest home stretch of the season.
Leading scorer Linus Weissbach became the first Tri-City player to reach 40 points after notching a goal and two points in a 6-2 loss to Omaha last Saturday.

The Storm has added some new pieces to the mix. Defenseman Chase Pilawski was acquired from Waterloo for future considerations on Tuesday. Affiliate forward Blais Richartz, the captain of Victory Honda U16, is expected to play for the Storm this weekend.

Sioux Falls is on an eight-game losing streak (0-6-1-1) and last won on January 27. Tri-City has picked up points in its first two games against the Herd (0-0-1-1).

Saturday, February 25 against Sioux City is Hockey Appreciation Night at 7:05 p.m., with a free postgame skate after, presented by Graham Tire.

A lot of saves for Logan
Through his first two Storm games, netminder Logan Halladay has made 72 stops. The third-year netminder has made 17 saves in both first periods of his Storm starts.

Halladay’s career high for shots faced (46) and saves (43) came in the same game, January 25, 2015 in a 4-3 shootout loss to Muskegon. The Merrimack commit faced 45 shots Saturday and made 39 saves, the second-most stops he’s made in a game.

Multi-point games
Linus Weissbach collected his 11th multi-point effort of the season Saturday, scoring in the first period and assisting on Logan Drevitch’s second-period goal.

Last season, Carson Meyer led the Storm with 11 multi-point games in the regular season and added four more in the Clark Cup Playoffs.

The last player to exceed 11 is former Storm Captain Garrett Gamez, who recorded 14 in 2014-15. Gamez tallied 44 points in 44 games.

Active Tri-City players have recorded 33 multi-point games this year and one-third have been by Weissbach. Wyllum Deveaux and Joseph Campolieto are second on the team with four multi-point games.

The Wisconsin commit Weissbach has recorded two assists on five different occasions. Weissbach recorded a career-best three points (1g, 2a) against Des Moines in a 9-1 victory on January 6.

Season series retrospective
Tri-City last faced Sioux Falls the day after Thanksgiving and lost in overtime, 4-3. Eric Dop made 29 saves and allowed the overtime-winning goal to Eric MacAdams, who was traded to Dubuque on Monday. The Storm also fell at Sioux Falls in a shootout, 3-2, on September 24.

Linus Weissbach leads Tri-City with two assists. Joseph Campolieto and Wyllum Deveaux have scored in the series. For Sioux Falls, Austin Albrecht and Alex Stevens lead Sioux Falls with three assists. No active Herd player has scored more than one goal in the series.

Friday’s game is the first time the Storm plays the Stampede in central Nebraska since Game 2 of the 2016 Western Conference Semifinals. Tri-City swept Sioux Falls out of the 2016 Clark Cup Playoffs.

Scouting the Stampede
Sioux Falls has allowed at least 30 shots on goal in 32 of 44 games (75% of games) and gives up a league-worst 35.80 shots per game. In games allowing at least 40 shots, Sioux Falls is 3-6-1-3. The Storm have given at least 30 shots in 20 of 45 contests and is 0-4-1-0 when allowing at least 40.

The Herd are the only team to surrender more than 50 shots in a game this season, allowing 60 to Muskegon on October 28 (a 2-1 win) and 52 shots in a 3-2 shootout loss against Sioux City on February 12. Jeremy Swayman stopped 48 of 50 shots against Tri-City on September 24 in an overtime win.

In 27 games, Swayman is 6-15-1-3 with a 2.85 goals against average and .915 save percentage. Mikhail Berdin appeared last game and allowed five goals on 20 shots in a 7-4 loss to Bloomington. The Winnipeg Jets draft pick is 10-7-1-1 with two shutouts (32 saves, 40 saves), a 2.99 goals against average and .918 save percentage.

Austin Albrecht leads the team with 30 assists (4th in USHL) and 35 points. Returning forward and Denver commit Jack Doremus is the team leader with 17 goals.

In danger
The Storm and Stampede have never missed the playoffs in the same season. Sioux Falls sits 17 points out of the 4th and final playoff spot in the Western Conference with 16 games left. The Herd have made the playoffs in four straight seasons and in 10 off 11 years.

Tri-City has qualified for the Clark Cup Playoffs in consecutive seasons. The Storm made five straight postseason appearances from 2003-07.

On Deck
Tri-City hosts Sioux City for Hockey Appreciation Night on Saturday at 7:05 p.m., with a free postgame skate after, presented by Graham Tire.

Spend your Sunday with the Storm! Tri-City hosts a special skills competition at 1:00 p.m. The event is free and open to season ticket holders. Meet Tri-City players and watch them feature their skills in a fun and family-friendly atmosphere. After the event, the Viaero Center hosts a public skate from 1:45 to 3:00 p.m.

Next Friday, March 3 at 7:05 p.m., the Storm starts a back-to-back against the Fargo Force with Ag Appreciation Night, presented by Asera Care. It’s also a $5 Kids Friday.

The Storm plays Fargo on Saturday at 7:05 p.m. with the annual Teddy Bear Toss, hosted by Slumberland.